SURPRISE, Ariz. — Optimism surrounds the Texas Rangers as they anticipate that their right fielder, Adolis García, will be ready for opening day. Following recent tests on his left oblique, it has been revealed that his condition is a mild strain.
Manager Bruce Bochy shared this update with reporters after García had been withdrawn from the lineup for a spring training game. The two-time All-Star, Bochy detailed, was dealing with a condition classified as “not quite” a Grade 1 strain. “They felt this was between a zero and a one, I guess,” Bochy elaborated.
Another outfielder, Wyatt Langford, who had been dealing with a Grade 1 strain in his left oblique, is on the verge of making his spring training debut this week. His condition had sidelined him since February 21, but Bochy suggested García would be back even sooner. This puts García’s return well on track for the Rangers’ opener at home against Boston on March 27.
In the Rangers’ journey to clinching their lone World Series title two seasons ago, García was unfortunately absent for the last two games due to an oblique strain. During the 2023 season, he demonstrated his prowess with 39 home runs and 107 RBIs. His standout performance in the AL Championship Series against Houston saw him batting .357, with five home runs and a series-record 15 RBIs, marking him as the first player to secure RBIs across six consecutive games within a postseason series. García continued his streak by homering in five consecutive postseason games, including his critical 11th-inning homer that decided Game 1 of the World Series against Arizona.
Approaching the end of his current contract, García is keen to recover his form following a less stellar 2024, where he batted .224 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs across 154 games. Prior to the oblique strain this spring training, García recorded six hits and two walks in 21 plate appearances.
